DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler (flue-TIK-a-sone)
Brand Name: Flovent HFA

Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler is used for:

Preventing or reducing the frequency and seriousness of asthma attacks. Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler will NOT help to stop an asthma attack once one starts.

Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in the airway.

Do NOT use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler
• you are having a severe asthma attack requiring quick relief

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler:

Some medical conditions may interact with Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you have active or inactive tuberculosis or a history of a positive skin test for tuberculosis
• if you have an infection of the airways or lungs, untreated fungal or bacterial infections, parasitic or viral infections, measles, chickenpox, herpes simplex infection in or around the eye, or you have recently received a vaccination
• if you have diarrhea, glaucoma, or cataracts

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Certain medicines that act on the liver (eg, ketoconazole, ritonavir) because they may increase the actions and side effects of this medicine

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler:

Use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• If needed, prime the inhaler according to the directions in the extra patient leaflet.
• For best results, the canister should be at room temperature before use.
• Before using Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler, be sure that the canister is properly placed in the inhaler unit. Shake well before each use. Breathe out slowly and completely. Place the mouthpiece between your lips and try to rest your tongue flat, unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Your doctor may have told you to hold the inhaler 1 or 2 inches (2 or 3 centimeters) away from the open mouth or to use a special spacing device. As you start to take a slow deep breath, press the canister and mouthpiece together at exactly the same time. This will release a dose of Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. Continue breathing in slowly and deeply and hold for as long as comfortable, then breathe out slowly through pursed lips or your nose. If more than 1 inhalation is to be used, wait a few minutes and repeat the above steps. Keep the spray away from your eyes.
• After inhaling, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out.
• Keep track of the number of sprays you use and subtract this number from the number of doses in the container. This will help you know when the container is becoming empty.
• Continue to use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler.

Important safety information:

• Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler is used to prevent asthma attacks. Do NOT use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler to treat a severe asthma attack that requires quick relief.
• If you are also using a bronchodilator inhaler, be sure to always carry the bronchodilator inhaler with you to use if you have an asthma attack.
• Use caution if you switch from an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) to Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) if any of these events occur.
• Improvement may be noticeable within the first 1 or 2 days of starting Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. However, you may need to use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler for 1 to 2 weeks before the full benefit is achieved.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
• Contact your health care provider right away if you experience an asthma attack that does not improve with bronchodilator therapy (eg, albuterol).
• Some patients may have trouble using Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler correctly. Some may also get mouth sores or a bad taste in the mouth after using it. If you have any of these problems, ask your health care provider if a spacing device may help.
• If you have not had chickenpox, shingles, or measles, avoid contact with anyone who does.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler while you are pregnant. It is not known if Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Contact your health care provider if WITHDRAWAL symptoms (joint or muscle pain, lack of energy, depression) occur.

Possible side effects of Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dry mouth; flu; headache; hoarseness; mouth or throat irritation; nasal discharge; runny nose; sinus swelling; sore throat; stuffy nose; upper respiratory tract infection.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); fainting; lack of energy; nausea; severe dizziness; slowed growth in children; sudden weight loss; tingling of the arms and legs; tiredness; vision changes; vomiting; weakness; wheezing; white patches or sores in the mouth.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler:

Store Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store canister with mouthpiece down. Store away from heat and direct sunlight. Do not puncture, break, or burn the canister even if it appears to be empty. Contents are under pressure. Keep Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Fluticasone HFA Aerosol Inhaler. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.